Estonia may close all road and pedestrian border crossings on its border with Russia as early as the beginning of December 2026. The government is considering such measures following an attempted arson attack on the defence firm Threod Systems, which, according to Estonian security services, was organised by Russian military intelligence.
- Estonia has begun preparations for the complete closure of its land border crossings.
- The decision was prompted by an attempt at Russian sabotage against a defence contractor.
- Eight residents of Latvia have been arrested on suspicion of organising the attack.
- Border crossings may cease operations as early as the beginning of December.
Estonia is preparing to close three border crossing points
Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Michal instructed the Minister of the Interior, Igor Taro, and the Government Secretariat to draw up the necessary measures for closing the eastern border.
According to the Minister of the Interior, the relevant proposal will be submitted to the government for consideration in the near future.
There are currently three border crossings operating between Estonia and Russia:
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Narva;
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Luhamaa;
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Koidula.
They are all operating on a reduced timetable — from 07:00 to 19:00.
Estonia had previously considered the possibility of closure of the border with the Russian Federation in the event of a general mobilisation being declared in Russia.
Russian intelligence attempted to attack a drone manufacturer
On the night of 14 November, a group of intruders attempted to break into the premises of the defence company Threod Systems in Viimsi, near Tallinn, with the aim of causing an explosion and setting fire to the building.
Thanks to the swift action of security staff and law enforcement officers, the sabotage attempt was successfully thwarted. No one was injured, and the company’s production facilities did not sustain any significant damage.
The Estonian security services have detained eight residents of Latvia. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has applied to the court to have five of the suspects remanded in custody.
Russia is stepping up its sabotage activities in Europe
The Estonian Internal Security Service has established that the attack was organised on the instructions of the Russian GRU.
This is the second such incident in recent months. In August, the Russian security services organised an arson attack on a facility belonging to Milrem Robotics, a company specialising in the manufacture of unmanned ground vehicles.
The Estonian government links these acts of sabotage to Moscow’s attempts to undermine support for Ukraine and destabilise the situation in European countries.
